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CHURCH DIARY and MAGAZINE- SEPTEMBER 2010
Dear friends,
Over this summer period, I have been reflecting on two of the activities I have been engaged in. The first has arisen because of a series of sermons I have been preaching on the love of God and our response to it, using Luke’s account of the parables Jesus told to illustrate this point. The second activity has centred on my preparation for my weekly Bible studies on the Book of Revelation. At first glance, you might wonder what Jesus’ parables on the love of God have got to do with John’s visions of the end times, the day of the Lord and the new Heaven and the new Earth that Jesus’ second coming will usher in. My response would be to say that I have been forcibly struck by how much, I for one, have underestimated both God’s love and also His judgement on this world.
The parables of the Good Samaritan, the Great Banquet, The Lost Sheep and the Lost Son as we find them in Luke chapters 10-15, all point us to a long-suffering God who continues to love us in spite of our best pathetic efforts to do things our way. In Luke 13:22-30 Jesus encourages people, which of course now includes us, to get on and enter the kingdom by the door provided. For, according to Jesus, although the door is narrow, through Him alone, it is far wider than His listeners suppose. The staggering fact is, however, that far fewer of their own group, that is the Jews, and far more of the Gentiles will find this door than they had ever expected.
The Jews knew they were the chosen people. Did they not have God’s word? Had they not suffered for their faith? Did they not keep His laws? Yet Jesus says that some of those Jewish listeners will meet with a great surprise when they come to the feast of the Kingdom of God. All their heroes will be there, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets, but so will people from all around the world, Gentiles whom the Jews regarded as their godless persecutors. And even worse, they will not be let in. Their faces will not be recognized. They will in fact be turned away. This ties in well with the general thrust of the book of Revelation. That those who will sit down to the wedding feast of the Lamb will be those who have received the mark of God’s ownership on their foreheads (Rev. 7:3). The apostle Paul sheds light on this statement when he writes in his letter to the Ephesians, “and God put His stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit He had promised” (Eph. 1:13).
So the question that comes to me concerns the reason why a God of love would want to turn anyone away? Jesus gives answers to this question in the parables I have already mentioned. But first we need a greater understanding of God’s love. Many today would like to accept the sentiments of H. Richard Neibuhr who once wrote that the essential message of liberal Protestantism is, “A God without wrath brought me without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without the cross.” Let’s take all God’s anger, judgment, pain and suffering out of the gospel message. This is just the sort of issue that Christ had with the church at Laodicea, the seventh church of Asia Minor to which a message was sent in the book of Revelation. It could also apply to any other complacent Christians who might preach or accept such a message. This is clearly wrong for what needs to be recognized is that a God without judgment is also a God who does not care about justice, which is to say a God who is neither holy nor righteous nor fair. No, we need to understand that God’s love is a holy love, and therefore cannot neglect the issues of justice and fairness. It is at the foot of Jesus’ cross that wrath and mercy meet. God’s wrath is seen in the terrible ordeal Jesus had to go through on that cross. God’s mercy is seen in that those who will accept that Jesus died for them will indeed receive the mark of God’s ownership.
So Jesus answers the question as to who will be turned away by the parables He tells. The Good Samaritan gives us the requirements for eternal life. To love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and love our neighbour as ourselves. We have to choose to love God, He will not force His love upon us. The Great Banquet shows us that the feast in the Kingdom of God is indeed open to all, but what excuses will WE give for not going to it! The Lost Sheep has much to teach us about our attitudes, our perceived status and reputation, our own set of values. If we are to pass through the narrow door into the Kingdom of God then we will need to shed every one of these misconceptions. There is only one true response to the love of God. It is summed up in the words of the Lost Son, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.”(Luke 15:21).
Repentance is the key to salvation. The book of Revelation clearly teaches that those who will not pass through the narrow door are those who remain proud, arrogant and stubborn to the end. Those who refuse to accept God’s love on His terms. Perhaps one of the saddest verses in Scripture is found in Revelation 9:20 “The rest of mankind, all those who had not been killed by these plagues, did not turn away from what they themselves had made. They did not stop worshipping demons, nor the idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic, their sexual immorality, or their stealing.” To my mind, the book of Revelation makes it abundantly clear, that God does love this world but His patience is not infinite. The day is coming when His patience will finally run out as it did when He punished the Jews with exile.
No wonder Jesus warns us all in His teaching on the Mount of Olives just before His crucifixion, “When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His royal throne, and the people of all nations will be gathered before Him. Then He will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the righteous people on His right and the others on His left. Then the King will say to the people on His right, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world.” (Matt 25:31-34). If you are reading this letter, then you are most probably among those who have received the stamp of God’s ownership and will be placed on His right. My concern is for those who are not reading this letter and will most probably find themselves placed on His left. As we start a new year in the life of the Church, what is our attitude to the lost? Will we leave the 99 and go to save the one who has gone astray?
Your friend and Minister
Derek
Kim Coleman and her family would like to say thank you to everyone for their prayers for Kuan (Kim’s brother) who had a very severe stroke some months ago. He is getting better now but will still need a lot of physiotherapy before he is able to walk on his own. Kuan is now back in Indonesia.
FUTURE HOPE – WEEK OF PRAYER
As we start the new year there are lots of things we can give thanks for as well as things we want to bring before God. Due to the success of last year we will be kicking of this academic year with another Future Hope prayer week held on the 6th - 10th September, as with last year, there are lots of slots for people to sign up to. This will be happening in our meeting room at the office, 40 Castle Street, Hertford, SG14 1HH.
If you can fill a slot please there is a timetable at the back of the church, or get back to me and I will confirm with you that the space is available. Or speak to Fran Spence your church rep.
Tim Simmonds, Youth Worker,
FutureHope
Herts. Young Homeless Group
HYHG have written again thanking the church for the continued donations of toiletries, The group are always very grateful for such contributions as they rely on these to put together packs of basic necessities to help vulnerable young people with a start towards the help they need in a proactive way.
Thank you also to John and Megan Greenhill, for organising the donations to be sent to HYHG.
Remember too that your old used stamps are collected by Shirley Sloan and taken to local hospitals for Guide Dogs for the Blind. (Leave a quarter inch round each stamp). There is a collecting receptacle on a table in the vestibule. The next meeting of the ACTIVE RETIREMENT GROUP will be on Monday 13th September when there is a coach tour and boat trip to WINDSOR. For those who have booked for this outing, please contact Val Bateman on 01992 464471 for details of departure times, etc.
HERTFORD AND DISTRICT CHURCHES TOGETHER
Open Meeting in the Friends’ (Quakers) Meeting House Railway Street, Hertford on Thursday 23rd September 2010 Janet Scott (Moderator of Churches Together in England) will speak on ‘Churches Together: is there a new way forward?’ Everyone welcome 7.00 refreshments with a prompt 7.30 start Plentiful, unrestricted parking available opposite the Meeting House in the Bircherley Green Car Park
Oasis Coffee Shop - Volunteers needed
As you may know, The Methodist Church on Ware Road has extended its premises to include a Coffee Bar area at the front of the building. The aim is to be more open to our community offering a peaceful space to meet up in an area where there is very little at present.
We want it to be a peaceful space where Mum's can bring children, lonely people can meet & make friends with a listening ear available if needed, and Fair Trade goods are promoted.
We plan to open for 4 hours each day Mon - Fri from 10am - 2pm serving drinks & snacks and are hoping eventually to make it available for charity fundraising on Saturdays. It is also hoped that we might also open on Friday evenings if demand and staffing allows, to provide a resource & support for our YP and possibly Street Pastors, Future Hope and the like.
We will need lots of volunteers to staff the coffee shop from 6th September onwards and in the true spirit of Hertfest we would love to work ecumenically.
A minimum commitment of 2.5 hrs once a fortnight is preferred (half a day's session allowing for opening or closing routines) but attendance for the whole 5 hr session would be great either every week or fortnightly.
If you would like to be involved in any way or want to know more please speak to Jen Doragh H587843 or Chris Lawn (H 552 669) and say which days you could be available.
Heaven on Earth
Heaven is……………. The innocence of a new born babe And the warmth of a little scrap snuggled up close to you It is…………………… a cry that tells you, you are needed and the wonder and almost unbelief of a little one sleeping peacefully in it’s crib It is…………………. The excitement of a first tooth and a smile of recognition that You are someone special, a gurgle of happiness is a gift to every Mum and Dad, whose flower of love blooms in the form of a tiny being Heaven is…………… sharing together a blessing and a task one has been chosen for How beautiful a new born babe! So pure, so meek and mild How beautiful our world would be if at heart we are just A child. by Sally Roberts
And in contrast.....
SPECIAL
POEM FOR OLDER FOLKS
Old leaf? A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mum, look what I found!" the boy called out, turning the leaf over and over. "What is it, dear?" asked his mother. With astonishment in his voice, the young boy ventured: "I think it's Adam's underwear.”
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Herts. & Beds. Historic Churches Trust Saturday 11 September 2010
10 am to 6 pm
Raise money for the repair of your local church or chapel by getting sponsorship for cycling or walking between churches in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Anyone can take part and there is a choice of over 600 open churches and chapels for you to visit. Cheryl will be cycling and looking after visitors in church in the afternoon – please sponsor her as our church representative, or perhaps you would like to participate yourself? Speak to Cheryl for more details.
‘VIVA PALESTINA 5’ Benefit Concert To raise funds to sponsor Martin Brophy from Welwyn Garden City Quaker Meeting who will be joining a convoy taking aid to Gaza leaving London on 18 September.
SUNDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 7.30 PM Hertford Meeting House There will be a retiring collection.
An evening of music from two duos Annette Giesregl – voice & Frank Schmuck – voice/percussion Iris Erderer – voice and Veryan Weston – piano
Enquiries 077733151317
power half-hour
This is the description of the half-hour prayer meeting held at Christ Church, Hatfield, by one of its participants some time ago.
Why not join our “half-hour of power” held at Hertford in the Church Vestry every Thursday evening from 7.30pm to 8.00 pm. It’s a time to reflect, to pray silently or verbally with others for world situations, local situations, the churches in Hertford and the plans for our own church, for those we love and for our fellowship and also to give praise for what God does in our lives. For those unable to attend through various reasons, be with us in prayer at home.
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